Couch-Artrip House · Photo: Roger B. Wise · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Leon
Leon isn’t graded for hazard risk: Leon has 252 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1978.
What Leon faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
Does Leon flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Leon, from FEMA’s records.
Leon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Mason County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Leon
Disasters that paid out in Leon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Leon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds16 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides3 households applied for aid$778 aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides25 households applied for aid$85K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides9 households applied for aid$37K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides35 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
Mason County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Leon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Leon archive →Get ready for what Leon faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Leon
Does Leon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Leon since 1978, $7K in all.
Is Leon in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Mason County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Leon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Leon’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Leon?
By FEMA money that reached Leon, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides (2004): 25 households applied for aid, $85K approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Leon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Leon’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.